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Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers
By Joe White
YOU MAY KNOW HIM from his many Top 40 radio staples such as “The Way It Is” or “Mandolin Rain,” but Bruce Hornsby might be a little cooler than you think. Hornsby has long been sought after for his session work and as a guest musician, but it was his special friendship with Jerry Garcia that many critics feel pushed him outside the confines of mainstream pop. Hornsby was a touring member of the Grateful Dead from 1990 to 1992, as well as guesting with the band on occasion before and after the tours. According to Performing Songwriter Magazine (March/April 2001), Hornsby’s particular style of jazz-fueled improvisation added to the Dead’s repertoire and helped to revitalize and refocus Garcia’s guitar solos in the band’s sound. Hornsby’s friendship with Garcia continued, both inside and outside the band, as the two challenged each other to expand their musicianship through several other album and live collaborations. Hornsby’s musical versatility and ability to slip in and out of extended freeform jams won over longtime Grateful Dead fans. Hornsby also has a deep relationship with the Allman Brothers Band, opening for the Southern rock architects in the early 1990s. The piano player has sat in with the group many times over the years, including at their 40th anniversary shows at New York’s Beacon Theatre in 2009. Friends With Benefits is giving you a chance to see this multiple Grammy award-winning musician in the cozy confines of the Columbia County Amphitheater. (Not the much larger stage across the street at the Lady A). Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers, w/ Scarlet Begonias Thursday, June 15 Columbia County Amphitheater 6 p.m. $35 for general admission, $100 VIP ticket fwbpro.com
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Joe White
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8JUNE2017
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Metro Spirit is a free newspaper published weekly on Thursday, 52 weeks a year. Editorial coverage includes local issues and news, arts, entertainment, people, places and events. In our paper appear views from across the political and social spectrum. The views do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. Visit us at metrospirit.com.© 15 House, LLC. Owner/Publisher: Joe White. Legal: Phillip Scott Hibbard. Reproduction or use without permission is prohibited. One copy per person, please.
Want to advertise in the Metro Spirit? Call or email Joe at 706.373.3636 joe@themetrospirit.com
AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
METROSPIRIT 3
V28|NO23
Looks like Augusta University Medical hired another Dr. Azziz to take over the Emergency room operations. He is suing locals for opening their homes to him and his family. Another doctor taking advantage of the community and stepping on our southern value’s. Nice work AU!!! Has Mike Sleeper won? What did you people ever do before Facebook? Does volunteering at your church really deserve attention? Every week? Is that why you do it? Sure seems that way to me.
WHINELINE@THEMETROSPIRIT.COM
Have something you want to get off your chest? Send your whines to whineline@themetrospirit.com. The Metro Spirit reserves the right to edit submitted whines for content, but we will otherwise print them pretty much exactly as you type them… spelling errors and all.
VIP Tents @ Lady A are FOOLISH! I was shocked. The 50 cent Debbie Cake is now $1.33. This means war ! Fat people rise up !
4 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
The Chronicle has upped their subscription price and is causing many of my online friends to end their subscriptions. As hard copy papers convert to internet by necessity with lost readers of hard copy, advertisers should be wary of the small number online readers left. Papers like the Metro Spirit, that have free internet access, should see a rise in advertising revenue. Good for you. Could I-20 get any worse? Driving to Atlanta is like the Trail of Tears. Pam Tucker and Tucker Time. Great. A slogan as dated and behind the times as her target.
Endless opportunities for who? In the latest taxpayer funded rant from the head good ole boy states that the recent issues in CC should have been handled as a confidential personnel matter. What he really means is the taxpayers have no right to know what’s really going on. Dear westbound Walton Way drivers: You may NOT make a left turn into the Summerville campus of AU at Fleming Street. I don’t care how nice your Lexus SUV is. Take the cell phone out of your ear and PAY ATTENTION to the traffic signs. That little red circle and slash over the black arrow means No Left Turn. And don’t yell at the people behind you for trying to let you know. They saw the cop you didn’t notice and saved you a ticket. SHOP LOCAL is the term , but you would be surprised at the business, restaurants and LOCAL establishments that use out of town contractors for their services. Money spent there supports companies that don’t support our local workforce. While I listened to the news today I wondered if REALITY set in? Who in the hell would name their child Reality, and who in the hell would give top secret security clearance to a child named Reality?
8JUNE2017
By Jo
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V28|NO23
Respect Downtown II Kris Fisher WELL, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. We put on a huge First Friday event in downtown Augusta and no one got shot. Actually, that’s not entirely true. What really happened was we had three downtown events, back to back, and no one got shot. Last Thursday, Friends With Benefits hosted Umphrey’s McGee to a very sizable crowd. Friday night, HD 98.3 presented six bands for free in the Augusta Common: Jax Jones, Moses, Erick Nathan, AJR, Max and Jaycie & The Beards. Saturday wrapped up the trifecta with Mudbugabeaux featuring country artists LoCash. All three events went off without any major issues and, more importantly, without any gunplay. I’m proud of you, Augusta. Slowly, more and more people are starting to take advantage of these events. We even had some fans from out of state come to enjoy our First Friday offerings. I met fans from Greenville, Charleston and more who had nothing but great things to say about our city and our events. They are even planning to come back later in the month for Beats on Broad featuring Bebe Rexha and next First Friday when we present Chord Overstreet, Symon and Hey Violet. We had lots of families of many different demographics scattered throughout the Augusta Common. Kids had fun, adults had fun and it didn’t stop there. Saturday after Mudbugabeaux, I did a bit of bar-hopping with my brother and cousins. I was very happy to see that a lot of people are enjoying downtown’s nightlife responsibly. Sure, there are always improvements to be made: To the mid twenty-something white guys who smashed a beer bottle on the sidewalk late in the night just because, and to the group who knocked over the Mudbugabeaux fencing in the early morning hours on Sunday because they thought no one was around, you’re part of the problem. You obviously enjoy our beautiful downtown area. In the spirit of people enjoying themselves and feeling safe downtown, a little common sense goes a long way. After all, you wouldn’t smash a beer bottle in your own driveway, would you? Why do it in the very area where you like to spend your Saturday nights? Outside of those couple of instances, it was a great weekend. And my Uber ride home (all the way to Belair Road) was only $14. If you haven’t been downtown in a while, once again I invite you to see what you’ve been missing. I promise, it’s not like a scene from “Tombstone,” “Boyz n the Hood” or “Back to the Future II.” Come see for yourself. You might just gain a little optimism about our city and enjoy yourself in the process.
No SAT or ACT Required Financial Aid and Scholarships Available
KRIS FISHER is the midday host and program director for HD98.3 and an Augusta radio staple. He is a husband, father of three and lover of all things adventurous, as well as activities most people would have outgrown years ago. djkfish.com.
No Miliary Obligation to Attend Ask about the new Bachelor of Applied Science degree We Accept Students with a GED
Apply for Fall 1 Quarter by June 24th deadline! 115 Davis Rd Martinez, GA (706) 993-1123 Admissions Questions? Email musry@gmc.edu Or visit www.gmc.edu 8JUNE2017
Don’t Fear the Big 40 Jenny is Wright Forty! I turned 40 a couple of weeks ago. So far, it’s been everything I’d hoped it’d be. Everyone loves celebrating 40. Those who already are, welcomed me with open arms. Those who still have a ways to go say, “I can’t believe you’re 40,” but the look on their face says, “Thank God it’s not me!” Y’all know I love celebrating a birthday. This one’s even better. I’m happy to celebrate all year if anyone feels left out. Specifically, I love cake and champagne. I’ve never been afraid of 40. I guess it wasn’t on my radar until recently, though. For years, friends who’d gone before me said, “Just wait. You will love 40.” When I was 30, I was a skeptic. Love it? I can imagine it simply not being a big deal, but love? What about “over the hill” and black balloons and headstones and such? Talking to a friend one night, we commented about a peacefulness that seemed to be growing as 40 drew closer. I can’t explain it fully, but maybe you understand. It’s not that I care less about things, but I care more about the things that really matter. It kinda leaves less room for the things that don’t. I’m not sure if my “really matters” list matches yours, but that’s not important. Whatever makes you happy, y’all. Friends have come and gone, but the most important ones still remain, and they are more important than ever. The cream rises to the top. It’s a natural selection process that at first feels a little unnatural. Go with it. A wiser, older friend told me it would happen. I didn’t believe them. Even when it was happening, I denied it. Her words came back to me in a bright, flashing epiphany. “Just you wait until you’re 40,” she said, “you’ll be surprised that the ones who now cause you pain won’t even remain.” It sounded so silly at the time. Family matters most. So many of my friends have lost parents over the last couple of years. Focusing on our own mortality is a natural side effect. How will we be remembered? Will we have time to give all we can to our children? We’ll never truly know, so make each day count. Jobs are work, and work is necessary, but there’s no reason to be miserable. I’m not quitting everything that makes me unhappy, but accepting that things aren’t always fulfilling is a big step.
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My grandfather worked for the same company for his entire career. Was it his passion? Nope. Did it pay the bills? Yep, and then some. He retired a wealthy man who stuck with a career that provided for his people. Doing things he was passionate about came after work and on weekends. He was a concert clarinetist with plenty of time to play. He loved tennis and golf and trains and never complained about not having enough time. A job is a job. If it’s also my passion, that’s a bonus. If it pays the bills, that’s life. Dozens of people told me to wait for the calm. Wait until I wouldn’t pay attention to the drama anymore. Wait and see. It was worth the wait. Somehow 40 feels like an earned spot. As if I belong on this earth now, with no justification necessary. I’m more me than ever, and I like that person. I’m not an expert in anything, and that feels better than thinking I have any of the answers. I don’t love that gray hairs, pimples, and wrinkles all happen at the same time, but it’s not the end of the world. It feels like a new beginning. Cheers! JENNY WRIGHT’S humorous observations on marriage, motherhood and living in Augusta have earned her a devoted following, both in print and on Facebook. When she’s not spying on other parents in the carpool line at school, you’ll probably find her with either a camera, tennis racquet or wine glass in her hand.
AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
METROSPIRIT 7
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The War on Drugs: inside the Belly of the Beast This is a shorT message from inside the belly of the beast. Read it with an open mind and discuss it with others. You may agree with it. You may find it totally repulsive. Either way we are making progress. The War on Drugs has been lost. We are spending millions and millions on law enforcement, on the housing of able bodied men in prisons, on the building of prisons, and on support for families who have lost the main person who can work. Has there been any lessening of the availability of drugs? No. Has there been any headway made in this fight? No. Now guess who has been paying these bills? Is it the dealers? No. Is it the users? No. It’s you and me. Is the violence, associated with the drug trade, over drugs? No. There is no fight over drugs. There never has been. The fight is over money, plain and simple. The fight is over who gets to control drug “turf.” This is all because of the money to be made. People are being robbed, shot, maimed, and killed, not because of drugs, but because of money. Drugs are an illegal black market item and this causes profits associated with their sale to be astronomical. Has the violence associated with the fight over massive profits generated from the fact that drugs are illegal lessened? No. It’s actually increased because the profits associated with dealing drugs, as an illegal black market item, are almost beyond belief. By making it illegal you drive up the price and profits on the black market. As soon as you lock up one dealer, ten more scramble to take his place because of the money to be made. Will your son, daughter, father, mother, brother, cousin, uncle, etc. be next? If they badly need money, and the opportunity arises, they may very well be. The government has made two false assumptions which have driven the stupid decisions our government has made in thinking that the “War on Drugs” could be won. First, that by making drugs illegal people won’t use drugs. Some people are going to use drugs whether they are legal or illegal. This has been going on since the beginning of time. We have been distilling spirits and crushing up roots, anytime it could give us a mind altering experience since Adam and Eve. It doesn’t matter whether the drugs are legal or illegal. Those that want them will find a way to get them. There are just as many people strung out on prescription drugs as illegally obtained drugs. Prescription drugs are usually the preference of those with money (ex. Rush Limbaugh, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, etc.). “My doctor prescribed it so I can get legally blitzed daily.” You see they can afford a mind altering substance by paying a doctor. If they get caught with a stash of prescription drugs, they don’t go to jail. It’s a better all around deal. Poor people can’t afford the doctor visit, so they just pick up what’s on the street prepared by some unlicensed pharmacists. They pick up naturally grown drugs such as marijuana, mushrooms and peyote etc. or grow their own. They also buy drugs cooked up by unlicensed pharmacists or some idiot with a beaker and some chemicals. Others have no interest at all in drugs. Those that don’t use drugs, are not going to begin using them whether they are legal or illegal. You could give them a pound of cocaine or a six pack of Xanax, and they would flush it down the toilet. They surely should not bear the costs associated with drug use. It should also be noted that of the 230 million drug users worldwide, ninety percent are not problematic. They use drugs recreationally and keep jobs and function in society without arrests or other criminal conduct. The second false assumption the government has made in thinking that the war on drugs could be won is this. Our government thinks that locking up everybody associated with drugs will stop drug use that has been going on forever. The thought is that, “if we scare them bad enough they won’t dare do drugs.” It’s very popular for politicians to say we’ll just lock everybody up. That is the same mentality that led to the racks, hangings, electrocutions, dungeons, etc. This led to some of the most violent times in the history of mankind. Don’t try to find the cause of drug use and the violence associated with the black market money. Heaven forbid, you mean look for a cause and cure. Hell, let’s just lock everybody up. 8 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
By Jacque D. Hawk, Guest Columnist
No one even took the time to see how much it would cost to lock everybody up. Surely, no one thought of who was going to pay for it. The ones paying are people that either aren’t using drugs or aren’t dealing drugs. Further, no one thought this would ever become a never ending process with astronomical cost in actual dollars spent and manpower that could be better used elsewhere. It has nearly brought our government to its knees. Here are some actual figures. One trillion dollars has been spent in the war on drugs since 1971. The number of prisoners in prison for drugs in 1981 was approximately 40,000. Today it’s well over 500,000 prisoners. Average cost per inmate is approximately $30,000 per inmate, (By comparison we spend only an average of $11,655 per year for a public school student.) Now, here is what is really stupid. We have already dealt with this exact same problem to a “T.” Back in the early 1900’s there was a popular drug that we made illegal. It led to organized crime getting involved for the huge profits that could then be made. There was still a tremendous demand for the drug, but it was now illegal. Huge black market profits were there for the taking. This led to all kinds of violence, shootings, maiming, and death. Fighting over drug turf to generate these profits occurred daily. Sound familiar? Therefore, we legalized one of the top five worst drugs in the world. This drug makes you feel ten feet tall and bullet proof. You can drive ninety miles per hour and feel like you are going forty. It will make you swear you don’t feel anything right before you fall on your face and throw up. That’s right. You got it. Alcohol. Why was it legalized? Because when we made it illegal, people used it anyway (just like they have been drinking wine and digging up roots to get high since we came out of caves). We also realized that locking everybody up was futile. We realized it was a stupid use of manpower to try and stop humans from doing something they have done since the very beginning of time. This was a huge waste of manpower and the cost was astronomical. The violence associated with black market profits related to alcohol disappeared. Sound familiar? We realized that taxing it could help us pay for any attendant costs associated with its legalization so that those costs did not fall on those that did not use it. We realized by regulating its use, we could better control it. We could better keep it out of the hands of our youth. Cartels would implode. Regulating alcohol and taxing it made those using it more responsible for the problems and costs that arise from its use (ex. DUI, public drunk, etc. requires many to attend counseling and treatment and pay fines that are paid for by them and not those who don’t drink), This helps curb excessive usage by putting the cost burden directly on the user. Taxes on the alcohol help pay for other attendant costs and raise money for other governmental programs. Portugal has done this and the results have been dramatic. Criminal activity associated with drug use has dropped drastically. Is it a perfect solution? No. What would be perfect is if people did not use any mind altering substances, but that ain’t going to happen. It’s too entrenched in our society. Mind altering substances are now an accepted form of socializing and of medical treatment. It is in our very nature that some of us will either use drugs or abuse drugs. Some won’t. Accept it. Deal with it intelligently. Let’s at least be as smart as we were when we eliminated prohibition. Just a word or two from inside the belly of the beast, hoping that one day, your son, daughter, or loved one does not get caught up in this ridiculous mess that we call, “ The War on Drugs.” Jacque D. Hawk is the CEO and founder of The Hawk Firm. He has been named a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the American Trial Lawyers Association.
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Reality Winner Actually Loses With Her Top-Secret Leak WHEN FBI AGENTS arrested 25-year-old federal contractor, Reality Leigh Winner, at her Augusta home this weekend, local residents were in total disbelief. Not only did an Augustan make international news, but she is facing serious federal charges for sending a top-secret National Security Agency report about Russia’s possible activity in the 2016 presidential election to an online news outlet called The Intercept. Winner is a contractor with Pluribus International Corporation and has held Top Secret clearance at the NSA Georgia facility on Fort Gordon since the first part of February. In May, Winner is accused of printing and improperly removing classified intelligence documents, which contained secret national defense information from the NSA, and mailing it to The Intercept. After identifying Winner as a suspect, the FBI executed a search warrant at her Augusta home. During the search, Winner surprisingly agreed to talk with agents. The FBI says that Winner admitted to “intentionally identifying and printing the classified intelligence reporting,” with the knowledge that the intelligence reporting was classified. Winner further admitted removing the classified intelligence reporting from her office, retaining it, and mailing it from Augusta to the news outlet. That will not bode well for Winner. According to an article published by The Intercept on June 5, the NSA report states Russian military intelligence officials executed a cyberattack on a U.S. voting software supplier and sent spear-phishing emails to more than 100 local election officials days before last November’s presidential election. In the online story, The Intercept even states that the paper anonymously received the report. “The top-secret National Security Agency document, which was provided anonymously to The Intercept and independently authenticated, analyzes intelligence very recently acquired by the agency about a months-long Russian intelligence cyber effort against elements of the U.S. election and voting infrastructure,” The Intercept reported this week. “The report, dated May 5, 2017, is the most detailed U.S. government account of Russian interference in the election that has yet come to light.” The federal government only started investigating Winner after a reporter from The Intercept contacted another federal contractor seeking to verify the authenticity of the documents. That contractor, in turn, alerted the NSA. The Intercept even allegedly provided the contractor a copy of the classified information. According to the FBI, the pages appeared “folded and/or creased, suggesting they had been printed and hand-carried out of a secured space.” From there it didn’t take long for FBI to identify a handful of people who had printed out the materials, including Winner. Then, the federal agents discovered she had email contact with The Intercept. The obvious question becomes: What was Winner, a U.S. Air Force veteran with no criminal convictions, thinking? While it is clear from her social media accounts that she is not a fan of President Trump, Winner had to know what she was doing and the consequences if caught, right? Now, Winner could be facing up to 10 years in prison if she is convicted under the Espionage Act.
However, The New York Times this week reported that conventional leak cases have typically resulted in prison terms of one to three years. But there are other questions being raised by the actions of The Intercept, as well. The search warrant affidavit, which doesn’t specifically identify The Intercept, states the following: “On or about May 24, 2017, a reporter for the News Outlet (the “Reporter”) contacted another U.S. Government Agency affiliate with whom he has a prior relationship. This individual works for a contractor for the U.S. Government (the “Contractor”). The Reporter contacted the Contractor via text message and asked him to review certain documents. The Reporter told the Contractor that the Reporter had received the documents through the mail, and they were postmarked ‘Augusta. Georgia.’” Now, Winner currently lives in Augusta, so that little hint really helped narrow the federal government’s scope. The search warrant affidavit continues by stating, “The Reporter believed that the documents were sent to him from someone working at the location where Winner works. The Reporter took pictures of the documents and sent them to the Contractor. The Reporter asked the Contractor to determine the veracity of the documents. The Contractor informed the Reporter that he thought that the documents were fake.” So The Intercept sent this federal contractor photos of the actual top-secret documents? The news outlet might as well have sent the federal government a photo of Winner at that point. Now, the only party that appeared to handle the situation appropriately was the federal contractor that was contacted to verify the documents. He contacted the NSA on June 1 to inform the U.S. agency of his interaction with the reporter from The Intercept. “Also on June 1, 2017, the Reporter texted the Contractor and said that a U.S Government Agency official had verified that the document was real,” the affidavit states. So, guess how many workers in Winner’s division printed out that top-secret document? Only six, and Winner was one of them. Talk about leaving a trail of breadcrumbs right to your door. If Winner was that careless with top-secret documents, she definitely deserved to be caught, no matter her intentions.
LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER MARIJUANA is the most commonly used illicit drug in the country, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. In particular, its use is widespread among young adults with more than 11 million people between the ages of 18 to 25 experimenting with marijuana over the past year. While rates of marijuana use among middle and high school students have dropped or at least leveled off in the past few years, the National Institute on Drug Abuse reports a growing number of young people believe marijuana use is not considered “risky behavior.” Why? Most experts believe that the legalization of marijuana for medical use and, in some states, the legalization of adult recreational use of pot might be affecting young adults’ view on the drug. And while some people believe that marijuana use is harmless, research shows that marijuana use does affect brain development. When people begin using marijuana as teenagers, the National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that the drug may reduce thinking, memory and learning functions and affect how 8JUNE2017
the brain builds connections between the areas necessary for these functions. But pot is still extremely popular. Consider the fact that High Times, the 44-year-old magazine that has long advocated for the legalization of pot, was just recently sold to a group of investors led by Los Angelesbased Oreva Capital for $42 million. The truth is, marijuana use is a growing industry. So we want to hear from you. If you are a concerned parent, member of local law enforcement or an advocate of the legalization of pot throughout this country, we want to know what you think about marijuana in America. Feel free to contact me at joe@themetrospirit.com with your thoughts. Thank you, Joe White Owner and Publisher of the Metro Spirit AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
METROSPIRIT 9
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The River is key
The history and future of the augusta area is forever tied to the Savannah River This summer, the Metro Spirit will be doing a series of feature stories on the importance of the Savannah River and its waterways to the Augusta area. Back in 1773, the American naturalist and botanist, William Bartram, first visited what was then described as the “village of Augusta” and immediately marveled at the power of the Savannah River. “The site of Augusta is perhaps the most delightful and eligible of any in Georgia for a city,” Bartram wrote, describing the city as “an extensive level plain on the banks of a fine navigable river.” The Savannah River was the key to the town’s success, Bartram stated. “Augusta, thus seated at the head of navigation, and just below the conflux of several of its most considerable branches, without a competitor, commands the trade and commerce of vast fruitful regions above it, and from every side to a great distance,” Bartram wrote. “I do not hesitate to pronounce, as my opinion, that it will very soon become the metropolis of Georgia.” While Augusta was first founded as a settlement in 1735 by British General James Oglethorpe, George Walton, who served on Augusta’s first commission government in 1780, was one of the first to try to channel the power of the mighty Savannah River. “As Superior Court judge, he fretted over the welfare of Augusta like an anxious parent,” the late local historian and author Edward Cashin wrote in his book, “The Brightest Arm of the Savannah.” After Walton became governor of Georgia, he later led a delegation that welcomed President George Washington to Augusta in 1791. “Both men were ardent advocates for river improvement and canal building as a means of facilitating commerce and fostering union,” Cashin wrote. “Washington foresaw a centrally planned system of canals and rivers that would go everywhere, bringing navigation almost to every man’s door.” The president’s enthusiasm over river projects caused Walton to tour north Georgia and eastern Tennessee and look to the future. By 1799, Walton told a Richmond County Grand Jury, “There is no stream in our country equal to the Savannah River.” The river, along with Augusta’s connection to “the seaport town of Savannah,” placed the city in a prime position, Walton said. 10 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
By Metro Spirit staff Photos by Joe White
“Augusta, thus seated at the head of navigation, and just below the conflux of several of its most considerable branches, without a competitor, commands the trade and commerce of vast fruitful regions above it, and from every side to a great distance. I do not hesitate to pronounce, as my opinion, that it will very soon become the metropolis of Georgia.” — American naturalist and botanist, William Bartram 8JUNE2017
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“The long pull upriver was a nightmare, three men on each side had to push on poles to propel the craft, their shoulders would become bruised and bloody from pressing on the butt-end of the pole. Even so, the boats could carry as much as 18,000 pounds of cargo, mostly farm and household commodities. It took three days to reach Petersburg from Augusta.”
“I do believe, therefore, with confidence from the impressions I have received that the western trade will pass through this place, and produce a prosperity in its surpassing all present expectation,” he stated. “And we will have the happiness of knowing and experiencing that as much health is enjoyed in it as in any town of the United States of its numbers.” Walton was correct. For the first 100 years after the founding of the city in 1735, Augusta’s claim to fame had been as a tobacco and cotton distribution center, Cashin wrote. “The availability of easy water transportation helped to make Augusta one of the world’s largest inland cotton centers,” Cashin wrote in his book. The entire state of Georgia quickly began to take notice of Augusta as a major economic engine. By 1815, the Georgia Legislature enacted a bill providing funds for removing obstructions in the Savannah River from Augusta to a small town, then known as Petersburg at the mouth of the Broad River. Several years later, enough obstructions were removed from the river to allow “Petersburg boats” 60 to 80 feet long, seven feet wide and shallow-drafted, to navigate from Broad River to Augusta. “The pilot, or patroon, and his six-man crew risked, and sometimes lost their lives, shooting the rapids they called the ‘Ring Jaw’ just below Petersburg,” Cashin wrote. “They would have smooth waters for two or three miles, then more shoals with names like Garden Shoals, Little River Shoals, Scott’s Shoals, Blue Jacket and Whirligig. At the smooth stretches between the shoals, the boats would stop at plantation docks along the way to pick up cotton, the patroon blowing a trumpet-sounding horn to signal his coming. They could carry as much as 60 bales of cotton, three tiers high, together with corn, oats, barrel staves, and anything else the people along the way wanted to send to Augusta.” While the river was crucial to Augusta’s success, it wasn’t an easy journey for the Petersburg boats. “The long pull upriver was a nightmare, three men on each side
had to push on poles to propel the craft, their shoulders would become bruised and bloody from pressing on the butt-end of the pole,” Cashin wrote. “Even so, the boats could carry as much as 18,000 pounds of cargo, mostly farm and household commodities. It took three days to reach Petersburg from Augusta.” Around the same time, the Erie Canal in New York was completed in 1825 and its success began to spark interest in connecting cities through waterways. That same year, Georgia Gov. George Troup proposed that the state should sponsor a canal system that would link the Tennessee River, not only with the Savannah, but also the Oconee, Ocmulgee and Chattahoochee rivers. It was an unrealistic vision, but it began the canal conversation in Georgia. And after the national depression of 1837, Cashin wrote that business declined in Georgia as well as all over the country. “Smaller Georgia towns became deserted as people moved west to seek their fortunes in Alabama, Mississippi or the newly independent nation of Texas,” he wrote. “If the depression continued, there was real danger that Augusta would become as deserted as Petersburg upriver and nearby Wrightsborough.” As a result of the growing economic pressures, Augusta leaders decided to look to the northern city of Lowell, Mass. for inspiration. At the time, Lowell was the first city to successfully use waterpower for heavy industry. Col. Henry Cumming -- son of Augusta’s first mayor, Thomas Cumming -- recommended that a canal be constructed for the purpose of providing hydropower for textile factories and creating a plentiful supply of water for the city, according to information from the Savannah Rapids Regional Visitor Center. Cumming and John King, the president of the Georgia Railroad Bank, were early advocates of the canal project, while a local banker, William D’Antignac, came up with a financial arrangement that made the canal possible. By April 1845, the Augusta Canal Company was formed as a publicly owned corporation to handle the financing and construction of Augusta’s canal system.
— Edward Cashin
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AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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“The boom years following the enlargement of the canal were the canal’s most productive and in many ways, most exciting. Robert Spude, a historian working for Historic American Engineering Record, concluded that the Augusta Canal ‘contributed to making Augusta an envied manufacturing center. Indeed, during the 1880’s the canal and the mills along its banks served as examples for the rest of the South.’” — Edward Cashin
The City Council of Augusta decided to issue bonds worth $100,000 that would be paid off with a special “canal tax.” Four local institutions agreed to put up seed money of $1,000 each: the Bank of Augusta, the Georgia Railroad Bank, the Augusta Insurance and Banking Company and the Bank of Brunswick. Unfortunately, the $100,000 estimate of what the canal would cost proved “woefully short of the mark,” Cashin wrote. As a result, taxpayers received stock in the Augusta Canal Company in proportion to the amount of taxes paid, according to the Savannah Rapids Visitor Information Center. However, not everyone was pleased at being forced to become a stockholder, and some residents joined a lawsuit challenging the city’s right to impose the tax. In March of 1845, D’Antignac went before interested citizens of Augusta to explain how the canal would be financed, insisting the tax would be minimal, but the benefit to the city would be enormous. The meeting attracted the attention of The Charleston Courier that called the 12 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
undertaking, “One of the boldest steps ever yet taken in the Southern States,” Cashin wrote. In the end, the city eventually won the lawsuit and construction on the canal began by April of 1845. It took approximately 18 months for 200 men to complete the first level of the canal and the headgates. On Nov. 23, 1846, the headgates were opened for the first time and the Augusta Canal was born. A story in The Augusta Chronicle declared, “A brighter day is dawning for our city.” It took about three months for the first boat to pass through the canal, but word of Augusta’s success began to travel quickly. A study undertaken on behalf of the city determined that with 5 feet of water, the Augusta Canal could produce sufficient horsepower to turn two large spindle turbines. Soon, new factories began developing in the city by 1848 including James Coleman’s Sawmill & Gristmill and the Augusta Manufacturing Company Textile Mill. Other companies also began projects of their own and the city saw its population nearly double in just six years. By Sept. 5, 1854, Petersburg boats and barges had transported the following produce through the first level into the basin at 13th Street: 140,000 bales of cotton, 3,184 barrels of flour, 1,286 bushel of corn, 3,556 cords of firewood, 27,700 pounds of bacon, 89 bushels of peas, 1,638 bales of yarn, 226 bushels of wheat, 8 bales of wool, 8 cords of hickory bark, 778,200 feet of timber, 117 casks of manganese, 1,500 hoop shingles and 5,500 laths, according to information from the Savannah Rapids Visitor Information Center. During the Civil War, the Augusta Canal provided water and power for the two-mile long Confederate Powder Works. This complex, which operated from 1862 to1865, produced 2,750,000 pounds of gunpowder for the Southern armies. The Powder Works was the only permanent structure ever built by the Confederate government. Its chimney still stands today in Augusta. By 1871, the city council instructed then Augusta Mayor Charles Estes to undertake a new study to enlarge the canal and engineer, Charles Olmstead, was soon hired. Meanwhile, a new company headed by James Gregg, son of Graniteville Mill founder William Gregg, was prepared to build a factory on the canal. 8JUNE2017
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By August 7, 1871, Olmstead told the city council that enlargement of the canal could be done for $371,610.56. Another engineer, Byron Holley, designed the dam, headgates and locks and by May of 1872, nearly 400 workers, almost all of them black, labored on the canal, Cashin wrote. By the end of 1872, one-third of the estimated cost had already been spent. The following year, Chinese workers came to Augusta to assist in constructing the project. “By Nov. 15, (1873) about 250 Chinese were on the job,” Cashin wrote. “In addition to the new arrivals, Olmstead used convict labor, mostly black, who wore striped uniforms and were chained together at night. In all, over 400 men worked at the enlargement as the year ended. “ But the public began criticizing the project and its mounting cost that had risen to about$496,000. “A Boston newspaper took notice of the development and marveled that the new canal would be the largest in the country in volume of water,” Cashin wrote. Despite some public criticism of the project, Estes was once again elected mayor in 1874. “In his inaugural address, Estes announced that the enlargement would be completed in 1875; only the bulkhead and the dam remained to be finished under Byron Holley’s supervision,” Cashin wrote. “The stone headgates had seventeen slide gates that could be worked by a single person operating the iron gears. The lock featured mitre-swing gates similar to those on the Erie Canal.” However, on Nov. 1, 1875, Estes acknowledged that the canal improvements’ cost had risen to about $750,000. He tried to assure citizens that all of the expenses were covered by city bonds and no additional taxes were needed, but the tide was turning on Estes. The Augusta City Council and a newly elected mayor, John Meyer, called for an investigation into the project’s expenses. “In the end, the committee had to accept Estes’s statement of direct costs of $725,389,” Cashin wrote, adding that they also included all indirect costs they could uncover. “They arrived at a grand total of $972,883.” Finally, by the end of the year, the enlargement of the Augusta Canal was completed and the present spillway dam was constructed to meet the high demand for hydropower needed by growing industries. The dam created a pool and slight diversion that directs water toward the canal gates. While the project was deemed a success, Estes’ legacy was tarnished by the city council’s investigation. “Charles Estes was left to wonder whether he was being held responsible for something wrong or given credit for something good,” Cashin wrote. But the 1875 enlargement of the canal was groundbreaking. 8JUNE2017
“It is the prettiest view on the Savannah River. As I look straight across, I can see the gatehouse. It’s almost hard to believe how beautiful it really is when you are looking at it. It’s gorgeous.” — Donnie Thompson The project left the Augusta Canal much as it is today, nine miles long, 11 feet deep and capable of producing 14,000 horsepower, according to the Savannah Rapids Visitor Information Center. “The boom years following the enlargement of the canal were the canal’s most productive and in many ways, most exciting,” Cashin wrote. “Robert Spude, a historian working for Historic American Engineering Record, concluded that the Augusta Canal ‘contributed to making Augusta an envied manufacturing center. Indeed, during the 1880’s the canal and the mills along its banks served as examples for the rest of the South.’” To this day, the Augusta Canal still powers several 19th Century-era textile mill buildings and supplies the city’s water. There is also still much fascination with the Savannah River and the Augusta Canal by local residents. In fact, two prominent local businessmen -- Donnie Thompson and Andy Jones -recently made a huge investment by purchasing about 460 acres of land directly across from the headgates and dam. “It is the prettiest view on the Savannah River,” Thompson said, adding he is currently constructing a house on the property. “As I look straight across, I can see the gatehouse. It’s almost hard to believe how beautiful it really is when you are looking at it. It’s gorgeous.” AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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WHAT’S UP
Calendar: 18 | Music Listings: 24 If you have any questions, or would like to submit an event to our calendar, please email Amy Christian at amy@themetrospirit.com.
BOOK IT! THAT’S RIGHT: you should get to the Kroc Center as close to 11 a.m. this Friday as you possibly can. Why? Oh, for so many reasons. The Summer Reading Kickoff Book Bash, an event co-sponsored by AmericCorps VISTA, working with the United Way of the CRSA, and the Headquarters Branch Library, aims to promote summer reading among young children and teens in the Harrisburg community as well as all over Augusta. How they plan to do that is absolute genius: fun, food and free books. Yep, the Book Bash will include games, activities, music, a magic show, character readings and food served on a first-come, first-served basis. And if that weren’t enough, organizers will give away packets that include seven books. Free! Books! Bibliophiles and budding bibliophiles alike should know that’s reason enough to show up to any event. Everything else is just icing on the cake. Summer Reading Kickoff Book Bash Kroc Center Friday, June 9 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 706-922-8935 uwcsra.org
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
Do you know how to protect yourself if you’re being attacked? Do you know how to safeguard against an attack in the first place? These are subjects that should concern every woman and Premier Martial Arts in Evans wants to take that target off your back by offering a self-defense workshop especially for women today at 10 a.m. And it’s free, so you really don’t have any excuse not to go.
Coffee inspires creativity, especially the amazing offerings at Buona Caffe Artisan Roasted Coffee. The Central Avenue shop is celebrating its fourth anniversary today at 4 p.m. with a coffee-themed art show, live jazz from Karen Gordon and homemade treats. We’re sure the art will be fantastic, but, to us, nothing can top this recent homage to “Twin Peaks.” After all, no one loves coffee more than FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper.
If you’ve been bitten by the acting bug, but don’t know quite how to start your journey to Oscar glory, then the Viewpoints Acting Workshop, which begins tonight at 6 p.m. at the Jessye Norman School of the Arts, might just be for you. Augusta-born actor Michaela Watkins will lead the seven-session class and will cover everything from the basics to more in-depth individual and group exercises. Rehearsals and presentation round out what is sure to help you on your way to fame. $140; pre-registration required.
One of the biggest stumbling blocks in family history research is dealing with adoptions. Whether it’s because you or one of your relatives has been adopted, the secrecy surrounding records really throws a wrench in researchers’ plans to find out where they came from. Today at 10:30 a.m. at the Headquarters Branch Library, a Legacy Family Tree Webinar aims to help researchers use DNA testing to fill in some of those blanks. The seminar is free, but pre-registration is required.
For more information on these events, see our calendar of events on page 18. 14 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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One and the Same Former child guitar prodigy derek trucks is now nearly 40 years old. He is still, however, dedicated to making music a family affair. It haS been a rOugh mOnth FOr derek truckS. The bandleader of the Tedeschi Trucks Band, co-named for his musical and life partner Susan Tedeschi, was in Macon last weekend for the funeral of Gregg Allman. While Trucks has been touring and playing music since he was about 9 years old, it was Allman who gave him his start. Trucks begin sitting in with the band when he was around 12 and became a full-fledged member when he was 19. Allman died in Savannah on May 27, making it two influential individuals Trucks lost during the month. “I guess around that time I was playing The Post Office and The Red Lion I met a good friend, Col. Bruce Hampton, and he really became family,” Trucks recently remembered. “He became a part of our crew. He was close to everyone around us -- my little brothers and sister and then when we had kids. But even before that, when I was young, he was great about turning you on to the right things at the right times. When he thought you were ready for something he would drop the right book or the right record.” And yes, that’s right, when he was between 10 and 12 years old, Trucks was playing the Augusta bar scene. “In hindsight, it was pretty unique,” he said. “My dad traveled with me. He made sure I was aware of what was going on around me. He shielded me from some stuff, but just enough to let me get an understanding. Usually when parents are supporting their kids in that way they are trying to extract something. My dad made it clear we could stop at any point. He wasn’t living his music career through me. I was lucky. We have a very close family that way.” That music is a family affair is something Trucks credits for keeping him grounded and away from the darker side of the business that many musicians fall prey to. “You would see people who would just let their ego get away from them and the music would suffer,” he said. “A lot of darker things too: people that would OD, a lot of broken families, a lot of those things. You certainly are better for it when you survive those things or, 8JUNE2017
in my case, watch those things.” But for every dark side he witnessed, Trucks said there were people like Col. Bruce who showed him the flip side of the coin. “And then you meet some people along the way who point you in the right direction and it’s the other side of that coin. You don’t only have to learn from the bumps in the road. There are some people who shine a light in different directions,” he said of Col. Bruce. “My dad was always really good about making sure that your attitude and your humility stayed intact, and that was always the Colonel’s thing, too, kind of taking musicians’ egos and just shattering them… in a loving way. He made sure you knew that you weren’t curing cancer for a living. It’s a magical thing, music, when it’s working, but the people that take themselves too seriously are missing the point. Take the work seriously, but not yourself was always kind of the MO.” Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi were, in fact, two of the people on the Fox Theatre stage in Atlanta on May 1 when Col. Bruce collapsed near the end of his 70th birthday celebration. “We were right there,” he said. “It was the end of the night and he was just a few feet in front of us and, yep, I’ve never heard of anything quite like that. Doing what you love and surrounded by people that love you… that’s a minor miracle, without a doubt.” Allman and Col. Bruce aren’t the only losses Trucks has
By Amy Christian
suffered lately, however. He, like everyone in the Augusta area, is still mourning the loss of Sharon Jones. “It’s been a rough few years for losing people close to you, Trucks said. “We had gotten pretty close with Sharon Jones, and she was an inspiration just because of how hard she fought through her thing, and then the Colonel. I’ve never experienced anything quite like that and I think people are still kind of processing that in their own way, but I feel lucky to have known him. It hurts losing a friend and someone who really felt like family, but you do realize how lucky you are to have people like that in your circle… ever. Sharon, too. You don’t meet people with that kind of spirit often, and you have to make sure you don’t take it for granted.” Trucks first started touring with his dad as a child and, now, as an adult, he tours with his wife Susan, a musical giant in her own right. Music, therefore, has always been the family business for Trucks and the two are so intertwined that it’s difficult to separate one from the other, he said. “I feel like there was never a separation,” Trucks explained. “I grew up around the Allman Brothers mythos and, you know, if you look at the inside cover of “Brothers and Sisters” it’s just full band and crew and family and that’s the way I always thought about that. When I was traveling in the beginning, my dad was always there, but my mom and my brothers were there as much as they could be, so it always felt like one and the same. You know, when you put a band together and start touring, you end up spending as much time, or more time, AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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with your band as you do anyone else in your life so it really does become a family. So there’s never been much separation. It’s never felt like anything but that, and I think when we put this band together that was certainly in our mind. These are people you want to spend a long time with and go to bat for.” The Tedeschi Trucks Band tours a lot. In fact, their upcoming visit to the Bell marks only a little more than a year from their last visit to the venue. How do they make that work when they have two teenage children? The answer is simple. Family. “Again, we’re really fortunate,” he admitted. “My parents live six doors down from us and my brother and his wife are 10 doors down in the other direction, so when we’re on the road and the kids are still in school, Mom will move into our house and it’s a little village over here. Yeah, I don’t think we’d feel fully comfortable doing it if that wasn’t the case. Before, it was Susan touring, I was touring, one of us was home or the kids were touring with one of us, but it’s nicer now because when we’re together, everyone’s together. It’s not as fragmented as it was before.” Then there’s the husband-wife dynamic in the band. While Trucks swears that Susan’s last name is first the band name simply because “Trucks Tedeschi just doesn’t sound good; that’s a total mess,” it was certainly a smart move on his part. Another smart move is the band’s policy of keeping issues out in the open. “You don’t want to carry anything to the stage, if anything is going on,” he laughed. “And I think this extends to us as a band. We really try to deal with things as they come up. We try to just shine a light on what’s going on. But, you know, we waited a long time before we put a band together. We had been together for more than 10 years and had been married a long time and had kids before we ever decided we were ready for a band together. We wanted to make sure we really knew each other before we jumped into something like this. I’m glad we waited because I think by the time we put a group together we knew each other really well. We felt like we were ready for it. We weren’t naïve. We knew there would be bumps in the road but it really has been much smoother than we ever imagined. I think having a really good band helps. Everyone’s in a good mood when things are
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rolling along. Not that we started this group and everything was simple from the beginning, but you feel like you’re on the right track, doing the right thing.” And though Trucks has been playing guitar for nearly 30 years now, it never feels like a chore. “There are times when the traveling will get tedious or just the everything that comes along with being a bandleader with a 12-piece band running an organization. That stuff can get to be a bit much, but the playing is never a problem,” he explained. “There are good nights and bad nights, but it’s an amazing thing. You feel like there’s always, always work to do musically. You feel like you’re always just scratching the surface, which is a good thing. I never get into too major of a rut and, when you do, you just put on a few good records and it reminds you of why you play. You put on something that really moves you and inspires you and, somehow, it really cleans the slate and gets you back. In some ways you always want to be progressing, you always want to be moving forward, but you always want to keep that direct connection with why you are doing it in the first place and why you started playing when you were 9 or 10 and there are some things you do when you first step on stage that should really never leave you. There is a sound and a purity and an intention that, if you have that, if you can somehow keep a direct line to that, I think that keeps you sane and keeps you doing it.” Tedeschi Trucks Band, w/ Paul Barrere and Fred Tackett of Little Feat Bell Auditorium Tuesday, June 13 8 p.m. $19.50-$79.50 877-4AUGTIX georgialinatix.com
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12:30pm - 4:30pm SRS Tour Aiken County Applied Research Center Includes a safety briefing, tour of the Savannah River Ecology Lab and general driving tour of the site. Free and open to those 18 or older who are U.S. citizens and have two forms of ID. Call 803-952-8994 or visit srs.gov/general/tour/public.htm.
Fri June 9
10:30am Emergency Preparedness Columbia County Library Pre-registration required. Call 706-863-1946, ext. 4, or visit gchrl.org.
Dog Wash SPCA Albrecht Center, Aiken Saturday, June 10 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The public is invited to bring their dogs to the center for baths, ear cleanings and nail trims. Prices depend on the size of the dog and all proceeds benefit the center and its homeless pets. 803-648-6863 letlovelive.org
ARTS Sat June 10
10am - noon Pastel Fox Workshop Aiken Center for the Arts No previous experience necessary and all supplies are included. Participants should bring a lunch or snack. $60; pre-registration required. Call 803-641-9094 or visit aikencenterforthearts.org.
Mon June 12
10am - noon Oil Painting 175 N. Louisville St., Harlem A Harlem Arts Council class. $20 per class; pre-registration required. Call 706-556- 6656 or visit harlemartscouncil.org.
6:30pm - 8:30pmDigital SLR Photography Augusta University A photography class led by Phil Jones that meets Monday evenings beginning June 12. For more information or to register, visit augusta.edu/pace/photography.php.
WedJune14
6:30pm - 8:30pm LocationandOutdoorPortraiture A photography class led by Will Tullis that meets Wednesday evenings beginning June 14. For more information or to register, visit augusta.edu/pace/photography.php.
Ongoing
Art Cart Artists Call A golf-cart/functional art installation set 18 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Sat June 10
9am Financial Education Kroc Center An EmpowerU class from Fifth Third Bank that includes information on budgeting, saving for a house, building your credit and more. Call 706-364-5762 or visit salvationarmyaugusta.org/kroc-center/.
10am - 1pm Boots to Breakthrough
to be placed in downtown Augusta in July 2017 is looking for a local artist to turn the cart into a bench and bicycle rack featuring artwork. Application deadline is June 16. Applications and guidelines are available at augustaarts.com/art-in-augusta/public-art.
and more. Before- and after-care available. Members: $400 per session; non-members, $600 a session. Sessions available May 22June 16, June 19-July 14 and July 17-August 11. Pre-registration required. Call 706-3645762 or visit salvationarmyaugusta.org.
CAMPS
DANCE
Tue June 13 - Thu June 15
Fri June 9
175 North Louisville Street, Harlem For those in kindergarten-fourth grades. $45: $5 supply fee. Pre-registration required. Call 706-394-4682 or visit harlemartscouncil.org.
Jessye Norman School of the Arts A class held Fridays from 7-8 p.m. through June 30. Taught by Mario Lett of Lett’s Dance. No experience necessary and a partner is encouraged by not necessary. $7 per class. To sign up, call 706-828-7768 or visit jessyenormanschool.org.
10am - noon Children’s Art Camp
1pm - 3pm Anime Art Camp 175 North Louisville Street, Harlem For those in middle and high school. $45; $5 supply fee. Pre-registration required. Call 706-394-4682 or visit harlemartscouncil.org.
Ongoing
8am - 4:30pm Summer Adventures Day Camp H.O. Weeks Center, Aiken A camp for those ages 5-12 that includes activities based around each week’s theme. Camps are held weekly through August 18, and early drop-off at 7:30 a.m. and late pick-up at 5 p.m. are available. For more information, call 803-642-7631 or visit cityofaikensc.gov.
9am - 3pm Camp Kroc Kroc Center A camp for those ages 5-12 in which participants will enjoy swimming, arts & crafts, group games, sports, Bible lessons
7pm The Art of Swing Dancing
EDUCATION Thu June 8
9am - 11am Computer Help for Absolute Beginners Wallace Branch Library Call to schedule an appointment. Call 706722-6275 or visit arcpls.org.
10:30am Build a Better Earth Columbia County Library Participants will create coffee can compost pails and should bring a 2- to 3-pound coffee can. Call 706-863-1946 or visit gchrl.org.
10:30am Get to Know Your PINES Account Diamond Lakes Branch Library Pre-registration required. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
Kroc Center A seminar for all women, but especially for military women who are transitioning from service to civilian status. Speakers include Dr. Ja’net Bishop, veteran and CEO/Founder of Have Joy, and Retired Lt. Col. Wendy Perry, CEO of Catalyst Executive Advising and Development. Free, but pre-registration required. Email dr.janet.bishop@gmail.com or visit havejoyllc.com.
11:30am Annual Meeting-Luncheon Augustino’s Italian Eatery and Prime Steaks A CSRA League of Women Voters event featuring keynote speaker Sam Beavers, Georgia Advocacy leader for the International Justice Mission, who will talk about modernday slavery. RSVP required. Visit PayPal.Me/ csralwv.
11:30am, 12:30pm and 1:30pmThe Other Tubmans Augusta Museum of History Part of the Voices of the Past series of character monologues. Free with museum admission. Call 706-722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org.
Tue June 13
10:30am Get to Know Your PINES Account Appleby Branch Library Pre-registration required. Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.
10:30am Tech Tuesday Computer Class Appleby Branch Library Pre-registration required. Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.
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Diamond Lakes Branch Library A two session-class that continues at the same time on Tuesday, May 16. Preregistration required. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
Buona Caffe Artisan Roasted Coffee Featuring coffee-themed art, live music from Karen Gordon and more. Call 706-869-4074 or visit buonacaffe.com.
Wed June 14
Thu June 8
11:30am Brown Bag History Series Lecture Augusta Museum of History Featuring Beech Island, led by Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site Interpreter Elizabeth Laney. Participants should bring their own lunch and the museum will provide beverages. A Q&A session follows the lecture at 12:30 p.m. Free, members; $3, non-members. Call 706-722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org.
5pm Beer & Bytes theClubhou.se A networking event featuring Randall Zapata, president of Zapata Technology, and Frank Braski, founder of ColumbusMakesIT & River City Foundry. Call 706-723-5782 or visit theclubhou.se.
6pm Tertulia: Spanish Conversation Group
FLIX 11am Movie for Special Needs Diamond Lakes Branch Library Pre-registration required. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
Sat June 10
3pm “Monster Trucks” Aiken Public Library Call 803-642-2023 or visit abbe-lib.org.
6pm “Happy: A Small Film with a Big Smile” Metropolitan Community Church of Our Redeemer The showing of this film about local artist Leonard Zimmerman will be followed by refreshments and a Q&A session in the fellowship hall. Visit happydocmovie.com.
Tue June 13
10am Movie Day
Headquarters Branch Library A group for beginner to intermediate Spanish speakers. Call 317-695-4748.
Maxwell Branch Library Showing a PG-rated movie. Call 706-7932020 or visit arcpls.org.
EXHIBITIONS
2pm Summer Afternoon Family Movie
Thu June 8
5pm - 7pm Exhibitions Reception Arts & Heritage Center of North Augusta The main gallery exhibition is Open Session, the AHCNA juried artist exhibition. The Balcony Gallery features a WWI History exhibit. Both exhibitions will be on display June 9-August 18. The reception is free on open to the public. Call 803-441-4380 or visit artsandheritagecenter.com.
6pm - 8pm “The Black Belt of Alabama: A Response to Home” Closing Reception Morris Museum of Art This reception for photographer Jerry Siegel includes an opportunity to meet the artist, who will sign copies of his latest book, “Black Belt Color: Photographs by Jerry Siegel.” Free, members; $5, non-members. Preregistration required. Call 706-724-7501 or visit themorris.org.
Fri June 9
5pm - 9pm Givers & Takers: New Work by Brian McGrath Wolf and Finch McGrath is owner of Sweet Sticks Skateboard Gallery. RSVP at facebook.com/ events/272550473210637/.
Sun June 11
4pm Fourth Birthday Art Show Opening 8JUNE2017
Appleby Branch Library A movie for all ages in which participants can bring their own snacks. Pre-registration required. Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.
5:45pm Free Movie Tuesdays Headquarters Branch Library Call 706-821-2600 for weekly selections. Visit arcpls.org.
Thu June 15
10:30am Summer Break Movie for Teens Appleby Branch Library Featuring a PG-13 rated movie. Participants can bring their own snacks. Call 706-7366244 or visit arcpls.org.
HEALTH Thu June 8
7pm Women’s Center Tour University Hospital Free, but pre-registration required. Call 706774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org.
Fri June 9
10am Chair Yoga Georgia Cancer Center Open to anyone being treated at the center. Call 706-721-0472 or visit augusta.edu.
Sat June 10
10am - 2:30pm Surviving the Cancer Journey One Step at a Time
Georgia Cancer Center A free cancer survivor luncheon and interactive program. Pre-registration required. Call 706-721-8353 or email comeara@augusta.edu.
10am Women’s Self-Defense Workshop Premier Martial Arts, Evans Free. all 706-426-6339 or visit hensleypma.com.
10:30am Childbirth Tour AUHealth Call 706-721-2273 or visit augusta.edu.
Noon Gun Defense Seminar Seigler’s Karate Center, Martinez $20; pre-registration required. Call 706-8555685 or visit goskc.com.
6:30pm Refit Headquarters Branch Library A free cardio dance class. Call 706-821-2600 or visit arcpls.org.
Tue June 13
7:30pm Childbirth Tour AUHealth Call 706-721-2273 or visit augusta.edu.
Wed June 14
9:30am - noon Wellness Checks Headquarters Branch Library Free blood pressure checks, blood sugar screenings and information provided by Christ Community Health Services. Call 706821-2600 or visit arcpls.org.
10am - noon HIV Testing
Mon June 12
Headquarters Branch Library Free. Call 706-821-2600 or visit arcpls.org.
Georgia Cancer Center Call 706-721-0472 or visit augusta.edu.
Thu June 15
9am Pet Therapy
1pm Music Therapy
7pm - 8:30pm Babies, Bumps and Bruises
Georgia Cancer Center Sessions include music-assisted relaxation, drumming to the beat and group. Call 706721-0472 or visit augusta.edu.
Doctors Hospital Pre-registration required. Call 706-651-2229 or visit doctors-hospital.net.
4pm Breast Self-Exam Class
Sat June 10
University’s Breast Health Center Free, but pre-registration required. Call 706774-4141 or visit universityhealth.org.
HOBBIES 10:30am DIY Workshop North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library Led by Aiken Standard columnist J. D. Norris. Call 803-279-5767 or visit abbe-lib.org. AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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Mon June 12
10:30am Chess Part I Columbia County Library This three-part class ending with a tournament on Friday, June 16, is open to all ages. Call 706-863-1946 or visit gchrl.org.
3pm Genealogy Club Columbia County Library A group for those of all abilities. Call 706863-1946 or visit gchrl.org.
“Happy: A Small Film with a Big Smile” Metropolitan Community Church of Our Redeemer Saturday, June 10 6 p.m. The showing of this film about local artist Leonard Zimmerman will be followed by refreshments and a Q&A session in the fellowship hall. happydocmovie.com
Tue June 13
10:30am Finding Missing Persons with DNA Testing Headquarters Branch Library A Legacy Family Tree Webinar that focuses on finding information about biological family members. Pre-registration required. Call 706826-1511 or visit arcpls.org.
Wed June 14
10:30am Chess Part II Columbia County Library This three-part class ending with a tournament on Friday, June 16, is open to all ages. Call 706-863-1946 or visit gchrl.org.
Thu June 15
6:30pm PWN AUG Chess Club The Book Tavern A club open to all ages and skill levels. Participants are encouraged to bring their own chess sets. Call 706-826-1940 or visit booktavern.com.
visit arcpls.org.
5pm - 7pm Rock Painting Workshop Aiken Public Library A program for those 12 and up in which participants will paint rocks to hide for others to find. Pre-registration required. Call 803642-2020, ext. 1131, or visit abbe-lib.org.
Ongoing
6:30pm Meet and Greet: The Hungry Caterpillar
Headquarters Branch Library’s Georgia Heritage Room Free sessions offered by appointment. Call 706-826-1511 or visit arcpls.org.
Columbia County Library An event featuring stories, coloring sheets and photo ops with a favorite character. Call 706-863-1946 or visit gchrl.org.
KIDS-TEENS
Fri June 9
Basic Genealogy Tutorials
Thu June 8
10am Create with Me: Come Sail Away Morris Museum of Art Part of the Mommy and Me series for children and parents in which participants will view the exhibit American Paintings from the Collection of Wesleyan College and then create their own mixed-media sailboat. Free, members; $4 per participants, non-members. Pre- registration required. Call 706-828-3867 or visit themorris.org.
10:30am Build a Better Bridge Appleby Branch Library A young-adult program in which participants will experiment with materials to build bridges. Pre-registration required. Call 706736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.
2pm Adulting 101: Life Hacks Headquarters Branch Library A young adult program. Call 706-434-2036 or 20 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
10:15am Story Time Fridays Aiken Public Library Stories, songs and interactive activities. Story time for babies (0-23 months) begins at 10:15 a.m., toddlers (2-3 years) at 11 a.m. and preschoolers (4-5 years) at 11:45 a.m. Participants and caregivers are encouraged to participate. Call 803-642-2023 or visit abbe-lib.org.
11am - 2pm Summer Reading Kickoff Book Bash Kroc Center An event co-sponsored by AmericCorps VISTA and the Headquarters Branch Library that will include games, activities, music, a magic show, character readings and food. Free packets that included seven books will also be distributed to participating children. For more information, call 706-922-8935 or visit uwcsra.org.
1pm - 3pm Friday Summer Fun Mistletoe State Park A naturalist-led kid-friendly activity time. Children should be dressed to play outside and should bring water and sunscreen. $3, plus $5 parking. Call 706-514-0321 or visit gastateparks.org/mistletoe.
Sat June 10
9:30am - 11am Children’s Hike with Story Time Phinizy Swamp Nature Park Pre-registration required. Call 706-396-1424 or visit phinizycenter.org.
11am Oh, the Places You’ll Go! Story Time Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
2pm Lego Club Headquarters Branch Library Legos provided. Pre-registration recommended. Call 706-821-2623 or visit arcpls.org.
Mon June 12
10am Pond Exploration Reed Creek Park A program in which participants ages 5 and up will learn about the animals living in the park’s ponds. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Free, members; $2 per child, non-members. Call 706-210-4027 or visit phobbs@columbiacountyga.gov.
10:30am Jr. Lego Club Headquarters Branch Library For those ages 2-4. Legos provided. Pre-
registration required. Call 706-821-2623 or visit arcpls.org.
1:30pm Skulls, Scat & Tracks Reed Creek Park Part of the Amazing Animal Mondays series for those ages 5 and up. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Free, members; $2 per child, non-members. Call 706-210- 4027 or visit phobbs@columbiacountyga.gov.
7pm Art of Sound Effects North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library Led by Porkchop Productions. Call 803-2795767 or visit abbe-lib.org.
Tue June 13
10am Preschool Crafts Class Diamond Lakes Branch Library A program for those ages 3-5. Preregistration required. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
10am Puddle Ducks: Kids & Caregivers Club Phinizy Swamp Nature Park Stories and hands-on fun. Free, members; $5, nonmembers. Call 706-396-1424 or email info@phinizycenter.org.
11am Local Butterfly Identification Reed Creek Park A program for those ages 9-11 that meets once a week for five weeks, through July 11. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Free, members; $10 for the series, non-members. Call 706-210-4027 or visit phobbs@columbiacountyga.gov. 8JUNE2017
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3:30pm Paws for Literacy Maxwell Branch Library An event in which members of the community can read to therapy dogs. Call 706-793-2020 or visit ecgrl.org.
10:30am Preschool Story Time
4pm Beginner’s Guitar Class
10:30am Sand Art Program
Columbia County Library A class for those ages 11-18 in which six guitars are available for use. Pre-registration required. Call 706-863-1946 or visit gchrl.org.
Friedman Branch Library Call 706-736-6758 or visit arcpls.org.
Wed June 14
10am Children’s Story Time Friedman Branch Library Call 706-736-6758 or visit arcpls.org.
10am GLASS Summer Reading and Sensory Story Time Maxwell Branch Library An ideal activity for children with autism spectrum disorders, sensory integration challenges or who have trouble sitting still. Best for preschoolers. Call 706-793-2020 or visit arcpls.org.
10am Movie and Craft Headquarters Branch Library For those ages 4-9. Pre-registration recommended. Call 706-821-2623 or visit arcpls.org.
10am Story Time Maxwell Branch Library Pre-registration required. Call 706-793-2020 or visit arcpls.org.
10am Story Time Wallace Branch Library Pre-registration required for groups. Call 706722-6275 or visit arcpls.org.
10am Story Time with the Morris Museum Diamond Lakes Branch Library Featuring a story and an art project. Preregistration required. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
10am Wacky Wednesday Story Time Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
10:05am Toddler Story Time Appleby Branch Library This is a program best for children ages 18 months-3 years. Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.
10:30am Creatures of the CSRA Appleby Branch Library Led by Sean Poppy of the Savannah River Ecology Lab and best for those ages 6-12. Pre-registration required. Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.
Appleby Branch Library For children ages 3-5. Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.
10:30am Super Awesome Story Time The Book Tavern Story time will be followed by a craft, and juice and cookies will be provided by New Moon Cafe. Call 706-826-1940 or email superawesomestorytime@booktavern.com.
10:30am Young Children’s Story Time Diamond Lakes Branch Library A program for those ages 0-3 that includes songs, finger plays and readings. Preregistration required for groups of 6 or more. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
Thu June 15
9am - 4pm Safe Sitter Doctors Hospital A class for those ages 11-13. Pre-registration required. Call 706-651-4343 or visit doctorshospital.net.
10am Father’s Day Craft Diamond Lakes Branch Library Pre-registration required. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
8pm All About Frogs Reed Creek Park Part of the Nocturnal Thursdays series for those ages 5 and up, along with their parents. Free, members; $2 per child, nonmembers. Pre-registration required. Call 706-210-4027 or email reedcreekpark@columbiacountyga.gov.
Ongoing
Those with the best lawn party decor can compete to be the Appleby Garden Party Winner of the Week. Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.
MUSIC
Thu June 15
Thu June 8
Headquarters Branch Library This program for those under 18 years old meets Mondays-Wednesdays June 5-July 12 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. to read books, eat lunch and have fun. Free. Visit arcpls.org.
The Shepard Project Metropolitan Community Church of Our Redeemer A teen hangout and safe space for LGBTQ+ teens, ages 14-17, and allies that meets the first and third Tuesday of each month from 5-8 p.m. The group is also looking for chaperones ages 25 and older and youth mentors 18-24 years old, who must pass a background check. Call 803-617-8352 or email shepardprojectaugusta@gmail.com.
LITERARY Thu June 8
North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library Call 803-279-5767 or visit abbe-lib.org.
Headquarters Branch Library
6pm Summer Reading Book Club
7pm Music in the Park
Columbia County Library A club for experienced guitar players. Call 706-863-1946 or visit gchrl.org.
Maude Edenfield Park, North Augusta Featuring Double D. Participants can bring blankets and chairs. Free. Visit naartscouncil.org.
7pm Music in the Park
7pm Remembering North Augusta’s
6pm Adult Guitar Club
Maude Edenfield Park, North Augusta Featuring 7 Once. Participants can bring blankets and chairs. Free. Visit naartscouncil.org.
Superstar: Miss Sharon Jones North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library Led by Don Rhodes. Call 803-279-5767 or visit abbe-lib.org.
Fri June 9
SENIORS
7pm Moonlight Music Cruise Augusta Canal Discovery Center Featuring Carey Murdock, this event features live music aboard a 1 1/2-hour Petersburg boat tour. Participants are invited to bring aboard snacks and beverages. $25; $23, seniors, military and students. Preregistration required. Call 706-823-0440, ext. 4, or visit augustacanal.com.
Sat June 10
8am - 2pm Saturday Morning Swing Eighth Street Plaza Live music from local jazz artists and performing arts groups during the Augusta Market. Call 706-627-0128 or visit theaugustamarket.com.
Sun June 11
7:30pm Candlelight Music Series Augusta Common Participants are invited to bring picnics, blankets and lawn chairs at this weekly event, this week. $8. Call 706-821-1754 or visit augustaga.gov.
Mayor’s Summer Read and Feed
10:30am Magician Chad Crews
8JUNE2017
“March,” a graphic novel about the civil rights movement, will be discussed. Copies available at the library or at the Book Tavern. Call 706-434-2036 or visit arcpls.org.
Mon June 12
7pm Hopelands Summer Concert Series Hopelands Gardens, Aiken Featuring Ryan Abel. Attendees can bring blankets, lawn chairs, picnics and wellbehaved pets on leashes, but no alcohol. Free. Call 803-642-7631 or visit facebook. com/experienceaiken. The rain-out hotline is 803-643-4661.
Thu June 15
1pm Got 30 Minutes? Kroc Center Conducted by the Area Agency on Aging, this workshop provides an overview of services available to caregivers, the aging, and those with disabilities. Call 706-922-0171 or visit salvationarmyaugusta.org.
SPECIAL EVENTS Thu June 8
6pm Swamp Soiree Home of Lelia Barrett A fundraiser for Phinizy Center for Water Sciences that includes dinner by Dye’s Southern Catering, cocktails, live bluegrass, a raffle and more. $50-$90; $10, raffle tickets. Call 706-828-2129 or visit phinizycenter.org.
Sat June 10
8am - 2pm Augusta Market at the River 8th Street Plaza, Reynolds Street The event features vendors of all kinds, activities, live entertainment and more. Visit theaugustamarket.com.
8am - 2pm Farmers Market Grovetown City Hall The market will feature items from local farmers, growers and producers, as well as artisans, craft vendors, ready to eat vendors and more. Call 706-860-7691 or visit cityofgrovetown.com.
10am - 2pm Dog Wash
North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library Led by Darlene Champagne and Barbara Walker. Call 803-279-5767 or visit abbe- lib.org.
SPCA Albrecht Center, Aiken The public is invited to bring their dogs to the center for baths, ear cleanings and nail trims. Prices depend on the size of the dog and all proceeds benefit the center and its homeless pets. Call 803-648-6863 or visit letlovelive.org.
8pm Evenings in the Appleby Garden
8pm “Ancient Sky Lore”
Tue June 13
7pm Music with a Story
Appleby Branch Library Featuring the Harmony River Chorus. A free event in which participants can bring their own chairs, blankets beverages and snacks.
Dupont Planetarium, Aiken Weather permitting, the observatory, housing the Bechtel Telescope, will be available for viewing after each show. $1-$5.50. Call 803AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
METROSPIRIT 21
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641-3654 or visit rpsec.usca.edu.
9pm “Digistar Virtual Journey” Dupont Planetarium, Aiken Weather permitting, the observatory, housing the Bechtel Telescope, will be available for viewing after each show. $1-$5.50. Call 803641-3654 or visit rpsec.usca.edu.
Tue June 13
4:30pm - 7pm Veggie Park Farmers Market Mill Village Trailhead, 109 Eve St. This weekly event in the park behind the Kroc Center features all local farmers and doubles EBT/SNAP benefits. Visit augustalocallygrown. org/veggie-park-farmers- market/.
Ongoing
Augusta Burgers and Beer Week An event held June 15-25 in which participating restaurants create a burger not on their regular menu. Participants in the week will visit participating restaurants, try the specialty burger, share photos to #augustaburgersandbeer and vote on their favorites to win prizes. For more information, visit augustaburgersandbeer.com.
SPIRITUAL Sat June 10
3pm - 8pm Garden City Gospel Fest Jessye Norman Amphitheater Free. Call 803-279-5008.
Wed June 14
6pm Plug Into the Rock Fest 2017 Broken Outreach Ministries, 2019 Rosier Rd. Featuring John Delgado, Brent Tatum, We Are Vessel and Set Up for the Fall. $10, advance; $12, door; $20, VIP. Visit itickets. com/events/380845.
SPORTS-OUTDOORS Thu June 8
7:05pm Augusta GreenJackets vs. Rome Braves Lake Olmstead Stadium $8-$12. Call 706-922-9467 or visit greenjacketsbaseball.com.
Fri June 9
7:05pm Augusta GreenJackets vs. Greenville Drive Lake Olmstead Stadium $8-$12. Call 706-922-9467 or visit greenjacketsbaseball.com.
9pm Full Moon Walk Phinizy Swamp Nature Park A guided, leisurely hike for children and adults. $5, members; $10, non-members. Call 706-828-2109 or visit phinizycenter.org.
Sat June 10
9am Waterside Yoga Augusta Canal’s Lake Olmstead Trailhead 22 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Art Cart Artists Call Deadline: June 16 A golf-cart/functional art installation set to be placed in downtown Augusta in July 2017 is looking for a local artist to turn the cart into a bench and bicycle rack featuring artwork. Applications and guidelines are available at augustaarts.com/art-in-augusta/public-art A class open to those of all ages and abilities. Participants should bring a mat or towel. Free, but donations to the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area accepted. Call 706823-0440, ext. 2, or visit augustacanal.com.
9:30am Swamp Bike Saturday Phinizy Swamp Nature Park A guided bike ride through approximately seven miles of wetland trials. Helmets and pre-registration required. Free, members; $2, nonmembers. Call 706-396-1426 or visit phinizycenter.org.
6:05pm Augusta GreenJackets vs. Greenville Drive Lake Olmstead Stadium $8-$12. Call 706-922-9467 or visit greenjacketsbaseball.com.
Lake Olmstead Stadium $8-$12. Call 706-922-9467 or visit greenjacketsbaseball.com.
Wed June 14
8am Summer Solstice Dressage Stableview Farms, Aiken A USEF/USDF Recognized Level Two Championship Qualifier Dressage show. Call 803-648-1222 or visit stableviewfarm.com.
SUPPORT Thu June 8
6pm Cancer Survivor Support Group Augusta Oncology Associates Call 706-651-4567.
Fri June 9
11am ALS Support Lunch and Learn
Sun June 11
Noon Practical Pistol SHARPE Shooters Outdoor Range $15, range and NRA members; $20, general. Preregistration required. Visit practiscore.com/ sharpe-practical-pistol-june-2017/register.
5:05pm Augusta GreenJackets vs. Greenville Drive Lake Olmstead Stadium $8-$12. Call 706-922-9467 or visit greenjacketsbaseball.com.
Mon June 12
7:05pm Augusta GreenJackets vs. Greenville Drive
AU’s ALS Clinic This support group gives individuals an opportunity to share their personal experiences and learn more about strategies for preserving the independence and quality of life for ALS patients and their loved ones. Lunch is provided. Free, but pre-registration required. Call 706-721-2681 or visit augusta. edu.
Mon June 12
6pm Pink Magnolias Breast Cancer Support Group University’s Breast Health Center Call 706-774-4141 or visit universityhealth. org.
Tue June 13
10:20am Moms Connection Augusta University Medical Center This free weekly support group for new mothers meets in the Terrace Dining Dogwood Room on the second floor. All new moms and their babies are welcome and an international board certified lactation consultant/educator/perinatal nurse will answer questions and offer resources. Call 706-721-8283 or visit augustahealth.org.
4:30pm All Cancer Support Group AU Cancer Center Call 706-721-1634 or visit augusta.edu.
Wed June 14
4pm Breast Cancer Support Group AU Cancer Clinic Call 706-721-0472 or visit augusta.edu.
THEATER Fri June 9
7:30pm “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” Aiken Community Playhouse $25, adults; $20, seniors and active military; $15, students; $10, children. Call 803-6481438 or visit aikencommunityplayhouse.com.
Sat June 10
7:30pm “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” Aiken Community Playhouse $25, adults; $20, seniors and active military; 8JUNE2017
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$15, students; $10, children. Call 803-6481438 or visit aikencommunityplayhouse.com.
Sun June 11
7pm “Outside Mullingar” Auditions Aiken Community Playhouse The production will show in August. For more information, call 803-648-1438 or visit aikencommunityplayhouse.com.
Mon June 12
6pm Viewpoints Acting Workshop Jessye Norman School of the Arts This seven-day workshop, held Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays through June 26, is led by Augusta-born actor Michaela
Watkins and will include individual and group exercises. $140; pre-registration required. Call 706-877-0411 or visit jessyenormanschool. org.
7pm “Outside Mullingar” Auditions Aiken Community Playhouse The production will show in August. For more information, call 803-648-1438 or visit aikencommunityplayhouse.com.
WE’RE NOT GOING AWAY...
PHYLLIS COCHRAN President, Augusta VAH
HARRY GUNSALLUS President, SRP FCU
STACY TALLENT President, HCCU
V28|NO23
Wild Wing - Prettier Than Matt The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn
What’s Tonight?
Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ Mike Johnson
Monday, June 12 Live Music
Hopelands Gardens (Aiken) - Hopelands Summer Concert Series w/ Rayn Abel Metro Coffeehouse & Pub - Blues Monday w/ Famous Last Words Soul Bar - Willess, Ford Theatre REunion
Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers w/ Scarlet Begonias and Special Guests Columbia County Amphitheater Thursday, June 15 6 p.m. $35, general; $100, VIP fwbpro.com
What’s Tonight?
Augusta Athletic Sports Bar - Sports Trivia Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane Wild Wing - Trivia
Tuesday, June 13 Live Music Coyotes- Jonathan Richards Eli’s - Donna Joe The Highlander - Second Sinner, A Future Now Past Iron Heights - Above It All, Young Culture Joe’s Underground - False Flag Rose Hill Estate (Aiken) - Keith Gregory Shannon’s - Preston and Weston Wild Wing - DB Bryant The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn
What’s Tonight?
The Backyard Tavern - Karaoke Edge Nightclub - Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Tribute Fox’s Lair - Karaoke
Saturday, June 10 Live Music
Gloom Cocoon, Boo Hag Soul Bar Thursday, June 8 9 p.m. soulbar.com Thursday, June 8 Live Music
Iron Heights- Lattermath, Sarah Longfield, DSME, Drewsif Stalin’s Musical Endeavors Fox’s Lair - Open Mic Jam Maude Edenfield Park (North Augusta) - Music in the Park w/ 7 Once Soul Bar - Gloom Cocoon, Boo Hag Wild Wing - Robbie & Rushton The Willcox (Aiken) - Thursday Night Jazz w/ 4 Cats in the Dog House
What’s Tonight?
Augusta Athletic Sports Bar - Karaoke Chevy’s - Karaoke w/ Ellie Cotton Patch - Old School Thursday w/ DJ Groove Coyotes - Karaoke with Bam
24 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Helga’s Pub & Grille - Trivia The Highlander - Butt Naked Trivia The Loft - Karaoke Pizza Joint (Downtown) - Trivia w/ Mike Sleeper Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane Sky City - 24X36 Movie Screening and Designer Meeting That Place Coffee - MAD Open Mic
Friday, June 9 Live Music
Augusta Canal - Moonlight Music Cruise w/ Carey Murdock Bell Auditorium - The Taylor Girlz, Silento, Zay Hilfigerrr Cotton Patch - Live Jazz Country Club - Aaron Watson
8th Street Plaza - Saturday Morning Swing at the Augusta Market on the River The Backyard Tavern - Whole Lotta Soul Fox’s Lair - Thomas Langley Iron Heights - Famous by February Jessye Norman Amphitheater - Garden City Gospel Fest Metro Pub & Coffeehouse - Gray Mayfield Polo Tavern (Aiken) - Robin Dixon and the Midnight Moon Shannon’s - Chasing Savannah Sky City - Rigor Mortis (Cameo Tribute Band) Stillwater Taproom - Dave Mercer Tin Lizzy’s - Lundy Wild Wing - Most Wanted The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn
What’s Tonight?
The Backyard Tavern - Karaoke Chevy’s - DJ Richie Rich Helga’s Pub & Grille - Trivia The Highlander - Karaoke Soul Bar - Dance Party That Place Coffee - Cushions & Caffeine Afternoon Open Mic
Sunday, June 11 Live Music
Augusta Common - Candlelight Jazz Capri Lounge - Vivian Valium & the Lounge Lizard Divas
Appleby Branch Library - Evenings in the Appleby Garden Opening Concert w/ Harmony River Chorus Bell Auditorium - Tedeschi Trucks Band Fox’s Lair - Irish Music w/ Dr. John Fisher and the Undefeated Army Joe’s Underground - Open Mic The Willcox (Aiken) - Hal Shreck
What’s Tonight?
Bar West - Trivia Capri Lounge - Trivia The Cotton Patch - Trivia Limelite Cafe - Bottom’s Up Trivia Mellow Mushroom (Aiken) - Trivia Mellow Mushroom (Augusta) - Trivia Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane
Wednesday, June 14 Live Music
The Bee’s Knees - ABBA Jazz w/ Rob Foster Broken Outreach Ministries - Plug Into the Rock Fest 2017 w/ John Delgado, Brent Tatum, We Are Vessel and Set Up for the Fall Hammond’s Ferry Larder (North Augusta) - Adam Harris Thompson The Highlander - Open Mic Night Shannon’s - Shameless Dave Soul Bar - Live Jazz Wild Wing - G/DUB
What’s Tonight?
Augusta Athletic Sports Bar - Karaoke The Backyard Tavern - Karaoke Bar West - Karaoke Capri Lounge - Game Night Chevy’s - DJ Richie Rich Pizza Joint (Evans) - Trivia w/ Mike Sleeper Polo Tavern (Aiken) - Karaoke w/ Tom Mitchell Sky City - Conspiracy w/ DJ Knightmare Southbound Smokehouse - Trivia Stillwater Taproom - Pub Quiz
Upcoming Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers
- Columbia County Amphitheater June 15 Hank Williams Jr.
- James Brown Arena June 16 Laura Blackley and the Wildflowers
- Stillwater Taproom June 16 Almost Kings, Villanova, Trust in Traitors
- Sky City June 24 8JUNE2017
Travis Tritt
Lindsey Buckingham, Christine McVie
- Bell Auditorium July 1
- Chastain Park, Atlanta June 21
Trash Panda, The Pussywillows
Chicago, The Band, The Doobie Brothers
- Sky City July 1
- Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Alpharetta June 23
Riverwalk Revival w/ Gov’t Mule, Galactic
- Jessye Norman Amphitheater August 1 Keith Sweat, Jon B
- Bell Auditorium August 11 Corey Smith
- Bell Auditorium August 12 Brian Regan
- Bell Auditorium August 25 Old Dominion
- Bell Auditorium October 5 Kansas
- Bell Auditorium October 25
Elsewhere The Avett Brothers
- Fox Theatre, Atlanta June 8-10 Hall and Oates, Tears for Fears
REAL PEOPLE REAL DESIRE REAL FUN.
- Infinite Energy Arena, Duluth June 11 Paul Shaffer
- Center Stage, Atlanta June 11 Chance the Rapper
- Lakewood Amphitheatre, Atlanta June 11 The Producers
- Variety Playhouse, Atlanta June 16 George Lopez, Cedric the Entertainer
Try FREE: 706-434-0108 More Local Numbers: 1-800-926-6000 Ahora español Livelinks.com 18+
- Infinite Energy Arena, Duluth June 16 Gipsy Kings
- Chastain Park, Atlanta June 17 Gladys Knight
- Botanical Gardens, Atlanta June 18 T.I.
- Rox Theatre, Atlanta June 18
Meet sexy new friends
FREE TRIAL
706-434-0112
IN BAD TASTE By Andrew Zhou/Edited by Will Shortz ACROSS 1 “____ Davis Eyes,” 1981 No. 1 hit 6 Some lookout notices, for short 10 One thrown for a loop? 15 Musical genre for “Gangnam Style” 19 Sundance Film Festival local 20 Sack 21 Venusian or Jovian 22 Pointer for a weather person? 23 Vertical part of a plane 24 Soprano on TV 25 Drifting sort 26 America’s Cup, e.g. 27 Step 1: Raise hell 31 Opus ____ 32 “Golly!” 33 ____ Picchu 36 Wild guess 39 Step 2: Make some literary gaffes 47 Reciprocal in trigonometry 49 Targets of a cleanse 50 Undecided, on a sked 51 Many residents of Holmes County, Ohio 52 Movie-release day, often: Abbr. 54 Had pants? 55 ____ rock 56 Step 3: Devote energy to something hopeless 59 Prefix with second 60 One who’s been tapped on the shoulder 61 West Coast news inits. 62 Numbers after a decimal point: Abbr. 65 Activewear brand 66 Step 4: Be a financial wastrel 74 Doxycycline target 75 Refusals 76 When doubled, a drink with vodka, peach schnapps and cranberry juice 77 Address not in a phone book 78 ____ film 79 Step 5: Look pretty schlubby 87 Partner of hems 88 Eliot’s “Silas ____” 90 Employer of the Bond girl in “The Spy Who Loved Me,” for short 91 Where 84-Down is, colloquially 92 Actress Gardner 93 Figure out 94 Zoology class 96 And finally: Has divided loyalties 101 Org. involved in a probe
1
102 1990s tennis phenom 103 Company with a lightning bolt in its logo 104 Lee on a set 106 What 27-, 39-, 56-, 66-, 79- and 96-Across together make up? 116 “Such is life” 119 A Wayans brother 120 Israeli magazine holders 121 “Pipes” 122 Buddha, for one 123 Made some calls 124 “Ain’t I sumthin’!” 125 Zac of “Dirty Grandpa” 126 ____ asst. 127 Tweets, e.g. 128 Bank deposit? 129 Hospital opening? DOWN 1 Totally believes 2 Nouveau-Mexique, e.g. 3 Prepare to take off 4 Like a bronze medalist 5 Follow 6 Resort in the Wasatch Mountains 7 “Oh, nuts!” 8 Chimpanzee variety 9 William who wrote “The Confessions of Nat Turner” 10 Running-track part 11 Much 12 Family in a computer game 13 Trump spokesman Spicer 14 TV-watching option 15 Bellyache 16 Handle roughly 17 & 18 Distribution limitation, informally 28 High-grade cotton 29 C.E.O. of the Planetary Society starting in 2010 30 Depletes 34 Stream coming down a mountain? 35 Pope who initiated the First Crusade 36 One crossing the line? 37 “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare,” e.g. 38 It spans 11 time zones 40 Conflagration 41 More, in ads 42 Navigator’s aid 43 Shaded growth
44 Anticipate 45 Lace 46 Nonvoting member in the U.S. House of Representatives 48 Gulf 53 Without forethought 54 Begin fighting 55 Growl like a dog 57 Best-selling Canadian singer of all time (with 200-million-plus record sales) 58 Duped 63 James who wrote “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” 64 Medieval toiler 66 Grand viziers, e.g. 67 Scales span them 68 Napping, so to speak 69 Rules and ____ 70 Some money set aside 71 Doo-____ 72 Recess 73 Like minor celebrities 80 Repeal 81 Be swarming (with) 82 “Hop-o’-My-Thumb” villain 83 Melting 84 It has a noted school of theater, film and television 85 Pulitzer winner Armantrout and others 86 “Frozen” princess 88 Really not O.K. 89 Part of a musical 93 Ovine : sheep :: cervine : ____ 95 Ad Council output, for short 97 Pickle brand 98 Pound sound 99 Talent seekers 100 Whom Kala reared 105 Altar approaches 107 Some G.I. wear, for short 108 Little hellions 109 Brooke or Brooks 110 Closes 111 Character with the aria “When I am laid in earth” 112 “Vidi” 113 Fade 114 Major before going to B-school, maybe 115 Big figure in Manhattan? 116 Response that’s often repeated 117 Bagel topper 118 ____-appropriate
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F O R B I D D E N F L U T E
B A A T H
K S C H E O R E Y E F O R O S T S F L A S H E O A S S A A R I E D D I N G D E N O F A S G I N S C A S E O G S A G R O U T E E G E O N S I S P A C S E U P T E R S E P E E
18
26
61
69
17
22
54
57
16
30
42
53
60
74
15
49
51
68
14
33
48
67
13
32
47
66
12
29
31 36
11
U B E R T M U T A H A N A Y E T I S W E A C T E T U L T O F B L I M A S E T O N E O R G I F A L S N F L E R E O F A L L A S I A N T H E B Y A M A R K C O S I G K E E P B
A T A A D K I T T H A R E G E E E P R R E E V M I G A U P N E U S
D A N A S E N A T R E F I I V O R Y
S A L E I L E N D N E T T E S T R A C H E R G R E A T E A R T H O N E S E B Y E V A V A L E S O F I T S G A T T A E R E E D L A V I A N N I N G I A T O R N C A N E I L I E N E T
SIGHTINGS
Michael Johnson | mejphoto.photoreflect.com
Esteban Patiño, Shannon Morris and Andrew Swift at the Esteban Patiño exhibition Black/White/Read at the Westobou Gallery.
Maura Bailey, Jack McGrath, Maura McGrath and Kay Bailey at the Esteban Patiño exhibition Black/White/ Read at the Westobou Gallery.
Alexis Schofe, Dewayne Brock and Courtney Hatcher at the Esteban Patiño exhibition Black/White/Read at the Westobou Gallery.
Ann Beth Strelec, Jason Craig and Russell Foster at the Esteban Patiño exhibition Black/White/Read at the Westobou Gallery.
Tina Milton, Tori Sanders, Martha Bennett and Libby Roussos at the Mudbugabeaux-N-Brew Crawfish Festival at the Augusta Common.
Becky and Tracy Phillips with Catherine Crawley at the Mudbugabeaux-N-Brew Crawfish Festival at the Augusta Common.
Shannon Foster, Ashley Coleman and Rebecca Derfus at the Mudbugabeaux-N-Brew Crawfish Festival at the Augusta Common.
Lee Bargeron, Ashley Gilreath, Amanda Thacker and Brando Cross at the Mudbugabeaux-N-Brew Crawfish Festival at the Augusta Common.
Janie Leonard, Mary Will Showman and Olivia Hundt at Whiskey Bar (Kitchen).
8JUNE2017
AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
METROSPIRIT 27
V28|NO23
THE EIGHT
BOX TOPS RANK TITLES
WEEKEND GROSS TOTAL GROSS WEEK # LAST WEEK
1
WONDER WOMAN
$103,251,471
$103,251,471
1
-
2
CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS
$23,851,539
$23,851,539
1
-
3
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
$22,087,099
$22,087,099
2
1
4
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
$9,839,370
$9,839,370
5
2
5
BAYWATCH
$8,741,285
$8,741,285
2
3
In Theaters June 9
ACTION DRAMA “The Mummy,” rated PG-13, starring Tom Cruise, Russell “Megan Leavey,” rated PG-13, starring Kate Mara,
HORRO R “It Comes at Night,” rated R, starring Joel Edgerton,
Crowe, Sofia Boutella, Courtney B. Vance. The 1999 version of “The Mummy” was pure, old-fashioned, movie-going fun. It had exotic locations, funny sight gags and flesh-eating beetles the thought of which would awaken you in the middle of the night. Besides the glamorous locales, 2017’s version looks to be a lot more intense and a lot less fun, typical of movies in which Tom Cruise stars. Maybe we’ll just go back and watch the older version again.
Christopher Abbott, Carmen Ejogo, Riley Keough. Well, someone had to make the first horror movie to hit theaters after Jordan Peele’s “Get Out,” but we still feel sorry for everyone involved in this project. Peele showed us that horror movies can actually be good, and we don’t get the sense that this movie — about a family hiding from an “unnatural threat that terrorizes the world” — can live up to that. Also? Can we get a “that’s what she said” about that title?
28 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Bradley Whitford, Tom Felton, Common, Edie Falco. For anyone who wanted a good human-animal story and were incredibly disappointed in the recent “A Dog’s Purpose” (which was everyone), you might want to check out this tale, based on a true story, of a misfit Marine and her aggressive, “untrainable” rescue dog. Together, they saved lives in Iraq before being separated. The way she attempts to rescue him after he does the same for her will surely bring a tear to your eye.
8JUNE2017
V28|NO23
No “Master spy” in Augusta, only a “Looney Bird” Austin Rhodes AugustA made international news this week, but not in a good way. Is our fair hometown not only “Home of the Masters,” but “Home of the Master Spy?” Um...no. We do host a massive National Security Agency operation at Fort Gordon, and for that the CSRA is blessed. The mission comes with hundreds of well paying jobs by (mostly) amazingly well behaved and law abiding taxpaying citizens and patriots. Unfortunately, if someone associated with the all important counter-intelligence mission of the NSA goes “off the reservation,” the news bulletin carries an Augusta dateline. As you may have heard by now, 25-year-old Reality Leigh Winner is one of those workers who has officially moved “off the reservation.” By the looks of some of her social media posts, she may have set up a permanent residence in orbit over Neptune, had it not been for the fact that she was arrested by the FBI this week for leaking “top secret” documents to an online news service. To say Winner (perhaps the most ironic name to hit the newswires in 20 years) is liberal would be an understatement. Her views are left-wing radical, and how she was ever allowed to exist as such an outspoken nut on social media and maintain her security clearance is a mystery to me, and surely a scandal in and of itself. In fact, she was such a demonstrable screwball that the theory you are about to read below is not only plausible, but it makes a whole lot of sense. Did Reality Winner’s looney-bird political and social views cause her to be set up by the NSA in a “sting operation?” The following letter arrived this morning from someone I will only refer to as Colonel Mustard. I made a few minimal edits to the letter to help disguise his identity, but believe me when I tell you, the Colonel knows from what he speaks. His theory? Miss Winner may have been caught like a rat in trap that was designed especially for anyone who was prone to leak something juicy. It had to be understandable and in a simple enough form to cause enough excitement to trigger an immediate action by the “leaker.” At the same time, it should be info that while intriguing, was not seriously dangerous to national security to release. Mission accomplished! Here is the letter I received: Dear Austin Rhodes, SUBJECT: Problem with the Reality Winner Story The first issue is that all, and I repeat “ALL” intelligence facilities are compartmentalized. These compartments are known as bays and each have isolated missions. Thus, geolocation otherwise called DF “Direction Finding” finding out where a target is coming from is isolated from the actual bay monitoring or collecting the signal of interest. Likewise, satellite communications, radio systems communications comprised of analog and digital data, imagery, and linguistic are all isolated from each other. The missions of these bays are generally categorized as SIGINT, HUMINT, GEOINT, MASINT, SATCOM, etc. No one bay has the completed report. Within each of these MISSIONS there are noted Shift Supervisors and Mission Managers who prepare reports for their compartmented areas and then forward their findings via secured communications to NSA where the complete report is finalized when all the data from all the sources of collection is compiled. If that is not enough compartmentalization there is also the fact that all software used by all these different mission bays and personnel are also scrutinized by ISSOs, Information System Security Officers. The ISSOs give access to these personnel to utilize only the selected software needed for not only their assigned mission 30 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
but also their assigned position within that mission. As a mission or assignment is finished by an assigned person for that operation the ISSO removes and adds access to the selected systems for that person by the ISSO. As noted the supposed leaked information was sent anonymously to the INTERCEPT. Due to the fact that she was a linguist she would have only had access to limited linguist data, not completed reports accessed by only Shift Supervisors/Mission Managers, much less the facts that her access to print anything would have been limited by the ISSO when assigned to any mission and bells and whistles would have alerted the S2(SECURITY) had she tried to access a system for which she had not been assigned access. This coupled with the fact that the AOR, Area Of Responsibility, for which the collection units operate is not Russia. Also of note is that when contractors are within any and all secured intelligence facilities they are to be assigned a chaperone to monitor their activities. Thus, it sounds in truth that she accessed a generalized email communication system and thus an unofficial report; meaning it lacked supported facts/data, yet was put forth as on only a confidential email system from which everyone within the secured intelligence facility has access. As I have stated Russia is not the AOR of Fort Gordon, thus her print out would have been a generalized letter not an actual report derived from factual data, but rather an allegation without supported data. I say this because if it had the supported data it would have been classified at a higher level for which she would have had no access; even within a secured facility, due to her mission assignment as a linguist. Hillary Clinton spouting out to everyone that the United States Nuclear response time is 5 minutes was more damage to our National Security then this unsubstantiated document that was either dispersed and marked as confidential or even unclassified for everyone to read. It sounds like the story was planted and they waited to see who would take the bait to try to leak it. Contact the GRSOC and Cyber Command at Fort Gordon to confirm that what I have stated is not 100% fact and true! This reeks of a planted faked report, else it would not have been on a generalized system for which everyone within the facility had access to print said document! Thanks Austin... Love the show! CM Thank you, Colonel Mustard. I love you, too.
AUSTIN RHODES A long-time radio talk show host who can be heard weekdays on WGAC from 3-6 p.m. The views expressed are the opinions of Austin Rhodes and do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher.
8JUNE2017